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Dental ceramists create prostheses such as crowns, bridges, and veneers in a laboratory setting using ceramics and metal. They receive three to four years of training and work with dentists to ensure the prosthesis matches the patient’s teeth. The process involves taking an impression of the patient’s mouth, creating a wax form, pouring dental ceramic into the form, and polishing the denture before sending it to the dentist. Dental ceramists can earn high fees and may have an art background.
A dental ceramist prepares dental prostheses such as crowns, bridges and veneers. These dental professionals work in laboratory settings with materials such as ceramics and metal, receiving three to four years of training to practice on their own as potters. The ceramist is a key person in the process of adapting a patient to a prosthesis, even if the patient may never meet or interact with this member of the dental care team.
The work of a dental ceramist begins when a dentist identifies a need for a denture and discusses options with the patient. An impression of the patient’s mouth is taken and sent to a laboratory, along with a prescription detailing the type of prosthesis needed. In addition, photographs are taken to give the ceramist the opportunity to match the natural color of the patient’s teeth. Color matching is important to ensure the denture blends in, unless the patient has specifically requested a special denture.
The dental ceramist uses the impression as a guide when building a denture, using wax to create a form that will be used to make the denture. When the wax version has been designed and adjusted to match the impression of the patient’s teeth, it is used to make a form and the dental ceramic is poured into the form. Metal structures may also be involved to create an attachment point for the prosthesis. After the ceramic has hardened, the dental ceramist cleans and polishes the denture, confirms that it matches the prescription, and sends it to the dentist.
This is very painstaking work. A ceramist needs to consider dental needs, making sure the impression is the correct size and shape for the patient’s mouth, as well as balancing aesthetic concerns so the impression doesn’t stand out. Some dental potters have an art background and may even hold fine art degrees in addition to their certifications as dental technicians.
The pay of a person working in a dentist depends on training, experience and skill level. Highly skilled artisans can sometimes charge very high fees for their services and they can be in high demand. People starting out may have fewer job options and receive a lower salary. A dental ceramist can choose to work at a specific lab, accepting jobs as they enter the lab, or at a specific dentist, handling all prosthetic needs for that dentist.
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